Lone Felix on the Cause of Collapse of Sigiri Bridge in Budalangi

Monday 26th June 2017 Sigiri Bridge Collapse Incidence: Former Kenyatta University student organization president Lone Felix contesting to be the senator in Busia County in the August 2017 general elections shares his views on the mystery surrounding the cause of collapse of Sigiri Bridge in Budalangi.

Photo of the collapsed Sigiri Bridge in Budalangi that was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and Ababu Namwamba

WHEN POLITICS DRIVES GOVERNMENT AGENDA: YOU FIND SIGIRI BRIDGE AND LIKELY MANY MORE

Early this Monday 26 June 2017 Sigiri Bridge in Budalangi collapsed. This coming a week after the bridge was inspected by President Kenyatta, has attracted, predictably, passionate political opinions and spinning.

While political players bicker, it is imperative to call people to accountability and good decency. There are several facts that have to be acknowledged. A bridge collapsed, while under construction, a show that something has been and is wrong with how the work has been done.

In the run-up to the President’s visit, the speed of construction was enhanced, and it is impossible to, in part, not attribute the collapse to this hurried work. We must thank God, that the bridge collapsed with zero casualty, and only leave to imagination, what it would mean, if the collapse occurred when the President had a rally on the bridge.

We must also remind each other, that this bridge was born out of death. It sought to cure multiple deaths that kept occurring as people attempted to cross River Nzoia. At this moment, we must call people to accountability. We must ask the National government to stop placing pressure on contractors of critical infrastructure projects to meet political deadlines to just make the government appear as working.

This bridge remains a critical piece of infrastructure for people of Budalangi and Busia as a whole. We look forward to, a speedy investigation of what happened, a re-evaluation of the entire work already done and commitment to conclude the project on schedule, or where need be, with minimal variation.

We also expect full accountability and the taking of responsibility by the concerned parties.